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SMSL SU-8 Impressions/Review (And Modi Multibit Admonishment)

AlexHempel

AlexHempel

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Greetings AKers,

I just received an SMSL SU-8 DAC to replace my Modi Multibit and I must say that I'm absolutely blown away. I'm listening to my standard suite of test songs (tracks I'm very familiar with) and it sounds phenomenal. Two things drove me to replace the Modi Multibit: 1, my reference monoblocks take a balanced input and 2, the Modi Multibit measures quite badly. I consider myself an objectivist and reading the Audio Science Review writeup on the Modi Multibit convinced me to try something better measuring. The SMSL SU-8 is one of the cheapest amps available with balanced output and it measures quite well, so I decided to pull the trigger.

With the SU-8, detail retrieval is phenomenal. Everything sounds more defined -- crisp sounds are crisper, instruments with reverb sound far more realistic and "present," basslines hit harder and sound tighter. I think all these things can be attributed to the huge difference in linearity, SNR, etc. between the SU-8 and Modi Multibit. I originally purchased the MOMBY because I wanted something with a warmer sound to complement my solid-state, low-distortion monoblocks and because multibit sounded cool on paper. It was undoubtedly the wrong decision in retrospect. The SU-8 doesn't sound colder or more clinical, it just sounds flat out better.

In general, I'm a skeptic of those who claim huge differences in sound between DACs. However, the MOMBY measures so badly that I'm not surprised a properly-designed DAC like the SU-8 is an audible improvement. We all know that listening tests at unusually high volumes tend to give the impression improvement, so I made sure to listen at a normal, comfortable long-term volume, and the increased detail was still quite audible. I'm pretty sure anyone could tell the difference, and I plan to have some musician friends with good ears listen as well.

In addition to performance, the CNC enclosure is nice and the whole DAC feels weighty and solid. And the lack of a wall wart is a huge plus for me (hate those things). Overall, very satisfied and I'd strongly recommend the SU-8 to anyone looking for a sub-$500 DAC with balanced outputs.
 
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Ive owned one for about 10 months. I bought it primarily using the ASR review and seeing how its constructed. The absence of a wall wart, the toriodal PS, dual chip tech and that clock were big pluses for me.

I like it. Does it sound good, YES.

If I ever walk into some extra money, I've got my eye on a Denafrips too.
 
I've looked at this product and some of the other more expensive SMSL DACs but wanted to see how their cheaper stuff performed first and how it held up over time.

I've had the small portable SMSL IQ (which I use at my desk) for a bit over year with no problems. At some point I'll be looking at getting another DAC for the stereo and would consider another SMSL as an option.
 
I don't even have an ASR account so I definitely wasn't "sent over" here. I'm not knocking all of Schiit's products -- their enclosures are great for the money and some of their equipment measures very well. Just relating my experience.
 
fredgarvin said:
I had the SMSL Sanskrit a few years ago, it was ok back then. The price on the SU_8 is nice for a balanced dAC.

oh good, I thought they dropped it after coming out with the new Bifrost.
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I owned both. I started with the Sansrit to feel how the company's products were. Upgraded to the SU-8 based on ASR tests and the componentry inside and gave the Sanskrit to a friend. I really like it.

As great as it is, it still has some of that hard edge that I hear from DACs. Not a lot, and I am really nit picking. Am looking into trying one of the modern R2R ladder DACs to hear if it really is an improvement.
 
Yeah, I'd be interested in hearing some non-MOMBY R2R topologies as well. To my ears the MOMBY and the SU-8 sound about equally harsh, but I'm guessing there are other R2R DACs that give a warmer sound. I've considered DIYing a cheap tube preamp as well; could be the best way of getting clean sound while adding a bit of warm, rolled-off flavor when I'm in the mood for it.
 
AlexHempel said:
Yeah, I'd be interested in hearing some non-MOMBY R2R topologies as well. To my ears the MOMBY and the SU-8 sound about equally harsh, but I'm guessing there are other R2R DACs that give a warmer sound. I've considered DIYing a cheap tube preamp as well; could be the best way of getting clean sound while adding a bit of warm, rolled-off flavor when I'm in the mood for it.
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I'm already piping the SU-8 into tube pre's. A Jolida Fusion with 12AX7s and !2 AT7s, and an Inspire LP3A with 6SN7s. When I switch from tube power amp to SS, the hard edge presents itself despite the tube pre.
 
botrytis said:
Then try different tube pre topology. I am using an Audio Research SP-16 with 12ZX7's (NOS RCA's from the 50's).
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Since I sense the difference when switching from tube to solid state amps, why would a 3rd tube preamp make a difference? I had purchased the Inspire preamp for its SET topology. My Jolida is push pull, what else is there realistically?
 
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I have an SMSL S8 (I know older) which sounds great but the Windows drivers are crap. They are not even "signed" drivers so I've had to disable driver signing in the bios of my surface pro :(

Any new units I would check for driver support.
 
For me the low cost DAC's that really shine tend to use old Phillips TDA1387 or TDA1541 chips. Unfortunately all the decent TDA1541A DAC's with 3 inputs tend to cost a bit more and if you want balanced outputs then with either chip you end up having to spend quite a bit of money.

Very smooth and natural sounding compared to DAC's based around modern chips.

If you can do without balanced outputs I can highly recommend trying this little DAC. Sounds wonderful stock, though if you don't mind modding you can place it in a bigger box and replace the NOS Phillips electrolytic output caps with Cornell Dubilier SF bypassed when a small capacity Miflex KPCU-1. Performance is nothing short of breathtaking :)

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/272781906180

Don't let the low cost fool you, nor lack of DSD support. It doesn't need better than 48k for incredible performance. In its modded form it competes with my previous $2,500 Gieseler GroB DAC + Kraftwerk linear power supply.
 
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Hi, i am. Urious if i bought this DAC, would i be able to use my galaxy tab 4 as a music streamer via this dac? I have a rogue audio sphinx 2 that i mostly use for vinyl but i want to be able to play my amazon music or Qobuz streams through it via my galaxy tab 4
 
I missed this thread...I gotta be better about searching.

I got one a few weeks ago. I had an SMSL M8 prior that I lost in a lightning storm; I picked up a cheaper DAC that just wasn't doing it for me but made me curious about running a dual-dac balanced setup in an unbalanced system.

I love this thing. It feels like a brick and the detail and stereo sound-stage are nicer than what I got on the M8. I also love the fact the few programs I have that use native DSD over ASIO now work.
 
My experience with the 9038 ESS mobile chip filters is that they sound very much the same to my ears which isn't all that surprising given the differences lie above 19khz.
 
@honestabe316 If you are referring to wireless streaming, I do not think the SU-8 would work, as it requires a wired digital connection. You will probably need a streaming DAC.

@dcgibby Unfortunately, I haven't given any of the filters a try. The remote didn't come with batteries and it works so well plug and play that I haven't bothered to put any in.
 
Are we talking about the PCM filters or the harmonic filters?

I leave mine on Fast Linear and "Natural". I've tried the various PCM Filters and found little difference; I haven't tried any of the other filters that supposedly screw with harmonics.

I thought about giving the "Tube" filters a try...but since I'm running tubes in my chain I don't think it would do any good.
 
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